From its earliest days right up until the present, The Salvation Army has been an active body of believers that takes risks. In fact, through the years it has been led by some great risk-takers. The Army’s Founder, William Booth, took a risk in not settling for a pastorate within the Methodist Church. He took the risk of forsaking security, maybe prestige, likely success, in order to discover the mission to which he believed God was calling him.

We can find many examples of risk-takers in Scripture, but for easy reference, Hebrews 11 lists several of them together:
Noah (Hebrews 11:7a). Was it a risk to build the ark? Of course! It was financial craziness. There was no government funding of capital campaign. Nor did he have any personal backers—only mockers. Despite this, he was willing to put his reputation on the line.
Abraham (Hebrews 11:8-10). Most Salvation Army officers can relate to Abraham. Did he take a risk? Yes. He packed up his whole family and went to “no man’s land.” I’m sure that’s how my own parents felt when they received their first appointment.

Newfoundlanders, trained in Toronto, they were sent to minister in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Abraham risked the security and safety of being established. He risked losing his wealth and investments. Who knew what or who would survive the journey and the transition?
Abraham again (Hebrews 11:17–19). This time, Abraham was prepared to offer his one and only son, Isaac, as a human sacrifice. Risky? No doubt about it. His whole family line was at stake. It was also cruel, heartless, even criminal, for him to kill his own son. Could he live with himself after the deed was done? Could he survive the torment of what people would say about him, the agony of their judgment?

Moses’ parents (Hebrews 11:23). Unafraid of the king’s edict, Moses’ parents hid him for his own protection. Were they taking a risk? Of course. But what were their options? To let their infant son be killed by Pharoah or run the risk of his being taken by a crocodile in the Nile River. They also risked whatever punishment Pharoah may have prepared for those who hid their baby boys.
And the list of risk-takers goes on: Moses, the Israelites, Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and many more.

This chapter—Hebrews 11—is often referred to a kind of roll call of heroes of the faith. Yet, as we have seen, each person named was a tremendous risk-taker. So, what does faith have to do with taking risks? Is it related at all?

According to Hebrews 11:1- 2, faith is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” That’s a great definition, but it seems to me that risk is just the opposite—that’s why it’s a risk. In life, we cannot be sure of the the outcome we hope for, and we cannot be certain of what we do not see. If we could be sure, there would be no risk.

The faith of these biblical heroes was in God, of course, and not in themselves or their own undertakings. Their faith came through being sure that God was exactly who he said he was, and being certain that he would do what he promised.
God is who he says he is. And thankfully, he is our Saviour in the person of Jesus Christ. That being the case, we need to acknowledge our need to be saved. And for that to happen, we must learn admit that God is God and we are not. Romans 3:23 reminds us of this, indicating that, as human beings, we just don’t cut it. We fall very short of his glory and perfection. We are sinners. We are lost, vulnerable, weak and faulty. We have a distorted outlook and tainted vision. This is a very different picture than the one the world paints of risk-takers—confident in themselves, strong, not even willing to consider failure as a possibility.

In a similar way, if God is our Lord, we need to admit our need for lordship. The same principle applies: God is God and we are not. We need lordship, direction, discipline, guidance. We need to surrender ourselves and our own plans. Again, it’s a very different picture than the one the world paints of a risk-taker—one who sets his own path, takes his own direction and follows his own instinct.
The Bible’s risk-taker heroes knew their place before God. They had faith that God was who he said he was and would do what he said he would do—and they knew who they were in comparison to that. Their faith linked their nothingness to God’s almightiness. They could then bring themselves to take action because they knew God was going to act. Their faith could take risks—God-directed and God-appointed risks—not risks determined of their own accord by their own clouded, selfish vision.

Whatever risk is at stake for us, either personally or corporately as The Salvation Army, if it is God-appointed it should not concern us in the slightest. Why? Because God will do what he says he will do.

What is your risk? Is it finances, like it was for Noah? God says, “You build it. I’ll provide.”
Is it the movement of resources, human and otherwise, like it was for Abraham? God says, “I’ll bless you. Over there!”
Is it risking everything you thought God had given you, like Abraham? God says, “I’ll bless you. Don’t even try to figure out how.”
Is it the risk of going against the government or the political correctness of the day, as it was for Moses’ parents? God says, “Obey me rather than men.”

May we also be great heroes of risk-taking—God-ordained and God-directed risk-taking. Remember, it’s not because of faith in ourselves, but faith in who God is and what he will do.

by Captain Darlene Morgan, Toronto Harbour Light